Fluid operated timing device



March 26, 1946` A. H. HABERSTUMP ETAL 2,397,103"

FLUID OPERATED TIMING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Y ATTO 5- March 26, 1946. A H, HABERSTUMP ETAL, 2,397,103

' FLUID OPERATED TIMING DEVICE Filed April 5, 1942 2 sheets-sheet 2 mamaria. ze, i946 2,397,103

Alfred H.

Haberstump and Lowell C. Freeman,

Detroit, Mich., assignors to The Murray Corporation of America, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application April 3, 1942, Serial No. 437,436

18 Claims.

This invention relates to pneumatic timing devices, and particularly to a timing device operated by the fluid delivered to a riveting gun or similar mechanism for accurately controlling the time of its operation.

device follows closely that of the device in the above mentioned copending application.

Accordingly, the mainpobjects of the invention are: to provide a fluid operated timing valve with movable means having material clearance In the copending application of Alfred H. with the wall of Athe chamber in which it oper- Haberstump et al., Serial No. 427,332, filed Januates; to provide a timing device with a movable ary 19, 1942, atiming device'is'illustrated for conpiston which is sealed to the fluid passage by a trolling the duration of operation of a riveting hollow flexible element; to employ a Sylphon as gun or similar mechanism; The timing device is a movable element within a chamber of a fluid operated by the iluid by which the gun is operated, timing device and an adjustable valve by which and a control handle is provided which, after air admitted to the Sylphon may be controlled to initiating the operation, is relieved of control for regulate the time required to build up a sufiicient the duration of the operation cycle. pressure to elongate the Sylphon; to provide a The present invention pertains to a similar hollow piston within a chamber having a rubber device. one which is more compact-.and which tube therein which is extensible to permit the requires less accuracy of manufacture of certain piston to advance within the chamber when sulfiof the component parts. The timing device emcient air pressure has been built up therein; to bodies a housing having a chamber in which a l provide a hollow elementwithin a chamber of a piston or similar element is disposed for axial timing device 'in which air may be collected to movement. Material clearance is provided bebuild up a pressure after a predetermined time tween the element and the wall of the chamber interval sufficient to move the element against to eliminate the close tolerances and accuracy a spring of known calibration; and, in general, to required between a bore and a piston when a provide a compact timing device which may be sealed pistonis employed. A Sylphon or metal constructed within a mechanism or which may be bellows may be utilized as the moving element, an attachment secured thereto, which is positive or a hollow piston having a flexible tubular lining in operation and economicalof manufacture. may be employed as a substitute for the bellows. Other objects and features of novelty 0f my A calibrated spring or the spring action of -the invention will be either specifically pointed out Sylphon is employed for moving the element in or will become apparent when referring. for a one direction. In some instances a cup washer better understanding of my invention, to the folmay be employed for engaging the wall of the lowing description taken in conjunction with the chamber when a hollow piston is utilized to take accompanying drawings, wherein: the place of the rubber inner tube heretofore Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a riveting 8111i mentioned. A and a fluid timing device embodying features of An operating valve is opened lby the actuation my invention; ofthe control handle for admitting air through Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the timthe timing device to the riveting gun, or other ing device illustrated inFig. 1; appliance, which is operated thereby. 'Ihe air is Fig. 3 is a broken view of structure similar to also introduced through an adjustable valve into 40 that illustrated in Fig. 1, showing a further form the hollow interior of the movable element where which our invention may assume; the pressure slowly builds up until such time as Fig. 4 is a view similar to that illustrated in itis sufllcient to overcome the spring tension re- Fig. 3, showing a still further form of the insisting the movement of the element. The elevention; and ment is then advanced in the chamber to engage Fig. 51s a view of a timing device similar to that and move the operating valve toward closed illustrated in Fig, 2 built into the appliance whch position. Adjacent to closed position the air isI actuated by the fluid pressure which operates being admitted through the valve engages and the device. quickly seals the valve against any further flow In-Fig. 1 a riveting gun i0 is illustrated, of conof` air. A relief valve is connected by a by-pass ventional form, having a gripping handle il and around the adjustable valve to the interior of a striking head i2. The handle li of the gun the element for relieving the pressure therewithin riS provided With a passageway for air having a after the operation has been completed to permit threaded opening in which an elbow i3 or simthe movement of the element to its initial posiilarly shaped conductor is threaded. A nut i4 locks the elbow in desired position on the gun tion. It will be noted that the operation of the ing device I5 embodies a casting I6 having a threaded inlet port I1 anda similar outlet port I8. The timing deviceis secured to the elbow I3 by the threaded port I8 locked inposition by the set screw I9. Thel passageway l1 leadsthrough an opening 2l into a chamber 22. The chamber is shouldered at 23 and supports a washer-like valve seat of rubber or similar exible material 24. A valve 25 is held against the seat by the pressurev admitted into the `chamber 22 and is retained in aligned position by a pin 26 which extends through an opening 21 in the housing I6 into a chamber 28.

A cap 29 is threaded intoan enlarged recess 3l in extension of the chamber 22 and shouldered portion 23. A projection 32 on the cap 29 engages the washer 24 and forces it in secured position against the shoulder. 'I'he extension 32l has a central recess 33 connected to a passageway 34 which communicates with an annular recess 35. The annular recess communicates with a passageway 36 which leads to the outlet opening I8 of the housing. v An operating plunger 3'1 extends through an opening 38 in the cap 29 having a valve head 39 which is engageable with a. valve seat 4I for sealing the pin 31 in the opening 3-8 against the passage of air therethrough. A spring 42 is disposed between the valve head l39 and the valve 25 for biasing them away from each other.

Within the chamber 28 a metal bellows cr Sylphon 43 is mounted, having the endmost convolution 44 soldered or otherwise secured to a washen 45. The washer contains a passageway 46 which communicates with the interior of the Sylnhon. The washer is provided with a tube 41 which joins the passageway 4B to a passageway 48 which communicates through the valve passageways 49 and 5| to the passageway 52 which joins lwith the supply passageway 36. A needle valve 51 extends within the passageway 49 and is provided with an adjusting knob 58 by which the ow yof fluid to the passageway 4,9 is accurately controlled. A relief valve 59 is disposed between the passageway 5I and the passageway 52 for the purpose of relieving the pressure within the bellows when the flow of air is cut o' from the passageways 52 and 36. A cap 6I is threaded on the end of the casting I E for securing the aaemos 24, passageway 36, to the riveting gun I4. The

finger 12 on the actuating element 69 moves from the plunger 31 and permits the plunger to return to the position illustrated under the bias ofthe spring 42. It will be noted that once the handle is moved in a counterclockwise direction en amount suiliclent to move the nger 12 from the end of the plunger 31, the further movement of the handle can in no way affect the completion oi' the riveting cycle. f y

For timing the operating cycle, air from the passageway 52 is bled through the needle valve 51 to the passageways 48 and 46 to the area within the bellows 43. The air will continue to accumulate within. the bellows until a pressure is built up therein sulcient to cause it -to extend. The extended movement of the bellows permits a wear plate 15 carried on its end to strike the pin 26 of the valve and move the valve toward or to closed position. I'he lair passing about the valve will usually engage and force the valve against the washer-like seat 24 to positively cut oi' the flow of air through the device and gun. 'I'he air washer 45 against a sealing gasket 62 on the end the wall of the housing communicating with the chamber 28 for preventing any pressure from accumulating withinthe chamber which would restrict the movement of the bellows.

An operating handle B4 is secured by a pivot 65 within a slot 66 in the forward end of the housing as illustrated in Fig. 2. The handle is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 61. The operating handle 6d is preferably made of a stamping of channel cross section having a pin 68 secured to the ilanges thereof on which an actuating element 59 is pivoted. The element is biased in a clockwise direction by a spring 1l and has an actuating finger 'i2 which engages the end of the plunger 31 when the handle Se is moved in a counterlockwise direction. The projecting end i3 of the plunger engages the pro- 'jection 'ill on the valve 25 and positively unseats the valve and permits the flow of air-from the intake passage I1 to pass through the valve seat pressure within the passageways 36 and 52 immei diately drops and the pressure within the bellows and passageways 46 and 48 will open the relief valve 59 and exhaust the air therefrom and permit the bellows to collapse to its original position by the inherent spring tension therein.

By adjusting the knob 58 of the needle valve 51, the bleeding of the air through the valve is regulated to regulate the time required tov accumulate suihcient pressure within the bellows to cause it to extend. Any time may be set for the operation of the device conforming tothe time required by the gun or similar mechanism to perform an operation. Different sizes and lengths of rivets employed in the construction of airplane assemblies will require different time cycles for swaging the rivets. When a series o f similar rivets is to be swaged by a riveting gun, the device is set for the particular time required for the swaging operation. The riveting operation is performed without the necessity of estimating the number of blows required to perform the op-A eration, and the personal variable is therefore eliminated. The adjusting knob 58 is provided with a plurality of slots 16 which are numbered or otherwise marked for settings. A stop element 11 of spring material engages a selected slot and locks the knob against rotation.

Referring to Fig. 3, we have illustrated a further form of the invention', Awherein the bellows d3 is eliminated and a hollow piston `18 substituted therefor. IThe piston may be made of plastic or other light material since clearance is provided between the outer surface of the plunger and the wall of the chamber 28. A tube 19, made of rubber or similar elastic material, is disposed within the hollow piston and provided with a flange 8| which is sealed to the end of the housing IS by a washer 45 retained in position by the cap 6I. A calibrated spring 82 is disposed within the chamber 28 bearing against a shoulder 83 on the end of the piston. The operation of the device is the same as that illustrated in Fig. 2, the air is admitted past the needle valve 51 within the flexible/tube -valve 25. After the operation, the air within the tube i9 is exhausted through the relief valve 59.

permitting the spring 82 to return the piston 18 to its original position, that illustrated.

In Fig. 4 we have illustrateda further form which the invention may assume, that whereiniy a hollow piston 84 is provided, similar to the piston 18, with the exception that it has a shoulder 85 for receiving a cup washer 66 which is retained upon the piston by a washer 81 against which the spring 82 abuts. In place of the washer 45, a cap 88 is employed having a passageway 89 in the base which Joins the passage way 48 and the interior of the piston 84., A sealing lwasher 9i seals the cap to the end of the housing i6, the washer being provided with an aperture 92 aligned' withthe passageway 46. When the riveting device or other mechanism is operated, air will `bleed past the needle valve 51,4 pass through passageways 48, 92, and 89 to accumulate within the hollow interior of the piston 84. When sufficient time has elapsed to build up the necessary pressure, controlled by the ad- Justment of the needle valve 51, the piston will overcome the tension of the springl 82 move to advance the pin 26 which moves the valve 25 toward closed position.

After the flow ofl air is cut ofi by the valve 25, the air within the piston and passageways will be exhausted through the relief valve 59 and the tension of the spring 82 will move the piston to its initial position, that illustrated.

In Fig. 5 we have illustrated a handle 85 of and will l asma-ica a riveting gun or other mechanism which is to be operated by air under pressure. control mechanism is built into the handle which has been shaped somewhat similar to the housing I6 of the device illustrated in Fig. 2. Air is delivered through the threaded aperture 86 'and a passageway 81 into the chamber 22. The pin 26 on a valve 8B is sealed relative to the passageway 14 and the chamber 28 by a shouldered washer 69. The washer prevents the escape of air from the chamber 22 when the valve 88 is opened into the chamber '28. The valve '89` is provided with a recess 9| which clears the shoulder of the sealing valve 89; otherwise the valve parts are the same as those illustrated in Fig. 2.

When the valve 88 is open, air is conducted from the passageways 92 and 93 to the operating chamber of the gun or other mechanism. Air is also passed in the opposite direction in the passageway 93 through the vneedle valve 51 and the passageway 48 into the interior of the metal bellows 43. The passageway 48 also communicatesv with the relief valve 59 through which the air in the bellows 43 is exhausted when the valve 88 is moved to closed position thereby. A thumb opera-ted trigger 95 is pivoted on a pin 96 in a slot 91 in the'upper part of the handle. The trigger carries the operating element 69 having the finger 12 which engages the projection 31 on the valve 39. The springs 61 -andr1l bias the trigger 95 and elements 69 in a clockwise direction. It is to be understood that the modified form of constructions, illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, may be built directly into mechanisms which are operated by air and are to be timed thereby the same as the structure of Fig. 2.

The timing device is compact and is positive in operation when accurately controlling the timing cycles. The variation which may occur due to friction and wear has been eliminated from the device. The wall of the'piston is not depended uponto form a seal with the wall of the chamber in which the-piston moves. Flexible means are employed which provides such The time Vseal or renders such seal r having a chamber, a

unnecessary. The seal may be a cup washer attached to one end of the piston or a'iiexible tube may be provided within the hollow piston. The piston and tube may form a single element suchl as a metal bellows or Sylphon, and in all of the devices shown the accumulation of air which maybe accurately metered to build up a pressure over a predetermined period of time is employed for controlling the movement of the piston or element for moving the valve toward closed position.

We claim as our invention: Y l

i. An air actuated timing device, a housing having a chamber, a valve for controlling the flow of air to the interior thereof, arod extending within the chamber, a hollow element within the chamber having an end Iportion engageable with said rod for positively moving said valve to closed position, said valve being joined by a passageway with the hollow interior of said ele.. ment which is directly moved by the pressure of air, and a regulating valve in said passageway for regulating the flow of air.into said hollow interior'.

2. An air actuated timing device, a housing valve for controlling the flow of air/to the interior thereof, a rodextending withinthe chamber, a hollow element within thechamber having an end portion engageable with said rod for positively moving said valve to closed position, said valve being joined by a passageway with the hollow interior of said element which is directly moved by the pressure of air, a regulating valve in said passageway for regulating the 'flow ofA air into said hollow interior, and a relief valve, said interior communicating through a by-pass about the control valve with said relief valve.

3. In an air actuated timing devicefa housing ment for positively said chamber having a hollow interior, a control valve for lcontrolling the iiow of air'to the interior of said element which is directly moved by the pressure of air, a rod extending in the chamber in position to be moved by said ele. moving said valve to'closed position, and a regulating valve for regulating the admission of air into the interior of said velement for controlling the time required to build up sufficient pressure to move Saidelement.

4. In an air actuated timing device, a housingl having `a chamber, a movable element within said chambervhaving a hollow interior, a control valve for controlling the ilow of air to the interior of said element which is directly moved by the pressure of air, a rod extending in the chamber in position to be moved by said element for positively moving said valve to closed position, a regulating valve for regulating the admission of air into the interior of said element for controlling the time required to build up sufficient pressure to move said element, and a relief valve, said relief valve being joined to the interior of said element by a by-pass about said control valve.

5. In an air actuated timing device, a housing having a chamber, a movable element within said chamber having a hollow interior, a control valve for controlling the flow of air to the interior of said element. arod extending in the chamber in yposition to be moved by said element for closing for controllingthe' time required to build up sufficient pressure to move said element, and a ef valve, said relief valve being joined to the irlerior of said element by a by-pass about said regulating valve, a trigger for operating said control valve to open position, and an element on said trigger which-renders said trigger ineEective to control the position of 'said valve during the operating cycle which follows the opening of said valveby the full movement of said trigger.

6. An air actuatedtiming device embodying a housing having a chamber, a metal bellows within said chamber having one end closed and the opposite end communicating with a supply passageway for the air, a regulating valve in said supply passageway for regulating the ow of air to the interior of the bellows which is directly moved by the pressure of air, a control valve in position to be positively moved by said bellows to closed position to shut oi the :dow of air in said supply passageway and metal bellows, and an operating element for unseating said control valve.

f 7. .An air actuated timing device embodyinga housing having a chamber, a metal bellows within `said chamber having one end closed and the opposite end communicating with a supply passagei Way for the air, a regulating valve in said supply l l passageway for regulating the flow of air to the interior of the bellows, a control valve having a rodextending into the chamber -in position to be moved by said bellows to closed position, an operating element for unseating said control valve, and means which renders said operating element inoperative to control the position of the control valve during the ensuing operating cycle when said operating element is fully actuated and which permits the operator to regulate the time of operation when said element is only partially actuated.

8. An' air actuated timing device embodying a housing having a chamber, a metal bellows within said chamber having one end closed and the opposite end communicating with a supply passageway for the air, a regulating valve in said supplyl passageway for regulating the iiow of air to the interior of the bellows, a control valve having a rod extending into the chamber in position to be moved by said bellows to closed position, an operating element for unseating said control valve, means which renders said operating element inoperative .to control the position of the control valve during the ensuing operating cycle when said operating element is suiiiciently actuated, and a relief valve by-passing said regulating valve and communicating with the interior of said bellows.

9. An air actuated timing device embodying a housing having a chamber, a hollow piston within said chamber, a spring for urging said piston toward one end of the chamber, a rubber tube disposed within said chamber and sealed to the end of the housing, a control valve in said housing controlling the ilow of uid, to the interior of said tube, through a, passageway, a regulating valve in the passageway for regulating the ilow of fluid into said tube, means for moving said control valve toward open position, and means between said control valve and said moving means for rendering said moving meansy inoperative to control the position of the valve during the ensuing operating cycle when said moving means is suilciently actuated.

10. An air actuated timing device embodying a housing having a chamber, a hollow piston within said chamber, a spring for urging said piston toward one end of the chamber, a rubber tube disposed within said chamber and sealed to the end of the housing, a control valve in said housing contromng the now of nuid, to the interior of said tube, through a passageway, a regulating valve in the passageway for regulating the ow of uid into said tube, means for moving said control valve toward open position, means between said control valve and said moving means for rendering said moving means inoperative to control the .position of the valve during the ensuing operating cycle when said moving means is Sulliciently actuated, and a relief valve by-passing said regulating valve and communicating with the interior of said tube.

11. An air actuated timing device embodyinga housing having a chamber, a hollow rigid piston Within said chamber, means for sealing said piston to the wall of the chamber, a spring for urging said piston toward one end of the chamber, said housing having a passageway which communicates with the interior of said piston a regulating valve in thepassageway controlling the flow of air to said interior, a control valve communicating with said passageway having a stem extending into the chamber in a, position to be engaged by and moved `by said piston, and means for moving said contro valve to open p0- sition.

12. An air actuated timing device embodying a housing having a chambe a hollow piston within said chamber, 'means for sealing said piston to the wall of the chamber, a spring for urging said v piston toward one end of the chamber, said housing having a passageway which communicates with the interior of said piston, a regulating valve in the passageway controllingb the iiowvof air to said interior, a control valve communicating with said passageway having a stem extending into the chamber in a position to be moved by said piston, me'ans for moving said control valve to open position, andladditional means for preventing the moving means from controlling the position of the control valve during the ensuing operating cycle when said moving means is suiiciently actuated.

13. An air actuated timing device embodying a` housing having a chamber,

a hollow piston within said chamber, means for sealing said piston to the wall of the chamber, a spring for urging said piston toward one end ofthe chamber, said housing having a passageway which communicates with the interior of said piston, a regulating valve in the passageway controlling the iow of air to said interior, a control valve communicating with said passageway having a stem extending into the chamber in a position to be moved by said piston, means for moving said control valve. to open position, additional means for preventing the moving means from controlling the position of the control valve during the ensuing operating cycle when said moving means is sumciently actuated, and a relief valve by-passing said regulating valve and communicating with the interior of said piston. r y

14. A timing device including, a housing having a chamber, a movable element within said chamber having a hollow interior, and an operating end which is urged toward an inoperative position within said chamber, an air control valve moved to closed position by said element, and means controlling the admission of air from said control valve to the hollow interior of said element for controlling the time required to build up sunlcient pressure to move said element for engaging and moving said control valve to closed position to thereby time the open period of said valve.

15. In an air actuated timing device, a housing having a chamber, a valve controlling the flow of. air to the chamber, a hollow element within the chamber separable from said valve, the intefrior of which is joined by a passageway from the outlet side of said valve, and a regulating valve in said passageway for regulating the flow of air to said hollow interior for moving said element after a predetermined time cycle, said element moving said control valve to closed position.

16. An air actuated timing device comprising a housing having a passage extending between an inlet port and an outlet port, a control valve for alternately closing and opening said passage, manipulative means for operating said control valve, said housing having a chamber, a-hollow element within the chamber and having a movable end wall which is separable from said valve, a passageway extending between the outlet side of said passage to said chamber for supplying live air thereto only when.the control valve is open. a regulating valve in said passageway for adjusting the ow of air into said chamber, and motion transmitting means interposed between said movable end wall and the control valve for closing the latter on predetermined movement of said movable end wall.

17. An elastic fluid actuated timing device embodying a housing having a chamber, a valve controlling the ow of the elastic uid through said device from an inlet port to an outlet port, a hollow elastic uid operated element operably movable within said chamber separable from said valve, said housing having a passageway on the outlet side of said valve in open communication with said chamber and the interior of said hollow element, and adjustable means in said passageway for regulating the flow of the elastic iluid to the interior of said hollow element for controlling the l time required to build up sufficient elastic fluid pressure to operably move said hollow element within the chamber and thereby close said valve.

18. An elastic fluid actuated timing device embodying a housinghaving' a chamber, a valve conof the elastic fluid to the interior of said hollow.

element for controlling the time required to build up sumcient elastic uid pressure to operably move said hollow element within the chamber and thereby close said valve.

` ALFRED H. HABERSTUMP.

LOWELL C. FREEMAN. 

